Vehicle suspension mechanism



Nov. 25,1941. c. J. FABER 2,264,023

VEHICLE SUSPENSION MEKHL'NISM` Filedsept. 1s, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 n 1N VENTOR A TTORNEKS.

Novi. 25,1941. I J FABER y 2,264,023

. VEHICLE SUSPENSION MEGHANISM v Filed sept. 1e, 19:59 A fs-heets-sheet 2 [N VEN T OR A TTORNE y Patented Nov. 25, 1941 VEHICLE SUSPENSION MECHANISM charles J. Faber, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application september 1s, 1939, serial No. 295,361

(c1. iso-7s) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle suspension mechanism and particularly to a suspension for automotive vehicles wherein the suspension members each consists of a torsionauy yieldable unit including a rubber biscuit arranged toXsupport the load of the sprung parts of the vehicle in combined compression and torsion.

The principal object of the invention is to proy vide, in combination with a torque tube type of drive, a suspension of this type which is strong and durable yet of simple form and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a suspensionsystem for vehicles in which thesuspension units are universally connected with the axle.

A further object is to provide a suspension-for the rear axle of a motorvehicle which has noise and shock absorbing characteristics that are superior to the suspensions of the prior art.

A still further object is to provide a vehicle suspension for torque tube drives invwhich the unsprung mass is less than that in present types of suspensions. y

A still iurthe'r` object is to provide an improved vehicle suspension wherein the suspension members are disposed a substantial distance above the axle and preferably within the connes of the Other objects and advantagesA of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved suspension system,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation oi the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one of the rubber suspension vmembers taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, in a smaller scale, of a vehicle embodying the Invention.

Referring to the 'drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts in the following description, the numeral I designates the chassis side sills to which the wheel-housepartions. I I of the body are attached as isconven tional in the art. A rear driving axle I2 provided with the usual diiierential gear housing I3 has the road wheels I4 mounted at each end thereof. A propeller shaft drivingly connects the diiferential gearing with the transmission mechanism T, the shaft being enclosed in a torque tube I which is rigidly connected tothe dierential housing I3 at its rearend and has the usual universal connection I B' to the rear end of the transmission housing. A pair of brace members 28 are rigidly attached'to the torquev tube I5 by means of a bracket 2'I andy diverge rearwardly therefrom toward the axle I2 to vwhich they are connected by means of the integrally formed bosses 28. u

A cross member I6 of channeled form interconnects the side sills III directly in back of the rear seat Il. As illustrated in Fig; 2. this cross member is arched upwardly and .is considerably wider at its central portion than at'the ends and serves as a support for the suspension members I8. The latter comprise an outer cylindrical member I 9 separated from an inner cylindrical member 20 by a body of rubber 2| whichis bonded to each of the cylindrical members. While rubber is preferred as the suspension medium,` anyof the synthetic materials having rubber-like characteristics may be substituted for 4the natural rubber. Likewise, changes may be made in the shape and arrangement? as a whole of the suspension unit without departing froml the invene tion.

The outer cylinder I9 of the suspension-unit has a ange 22 around one end thereof for attachment to the cross member I6. Any suitable attaching means may be employed, such as welding. The inner cylinder 2li is elongated in one direction along its axis for attachment to an arm member 23 of stamped metal construction. The arm 23 is welded at one end to the cylinder 20 as shown in Fig. 4 and is connected to the axle I2 at its other end by means of a link 2l. The latter is connected to the arm 23 by a ball-andsocket connection 29 and to the axle I2 by a balland-'socket connection 30, the latter connection being carried on the axle by a bracket 3| which also carries a ballfandsocket connection 32. 'Ihe latter forms the axle connection for a link Il whichis connected to the arm 35 of a shock absorber 36 by a ball-and-socket connection 34.'

The shock absorber 36 may be of any suitable type and is supported on the frame member In. The

the ascension umts, la abve the plane of the chassis frame, lateral stability on turns is increased because the center of gravity is brought closer to the axis of the suspension and in some cases may even be below said axis. This arrangement is advantageous also in that it permits a lowering of the overall height of the vehicle and the suspension units are protected from exposure to oil, grease, mud, water, etc.

'I'he ball joints 29, 30, 32, 34, 38 and 39 are preferably provided with rubber bushings to provide free universal action, and silent operation without the need for lubrication, but other types of bushings may be provided if desired.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a suspension wherein the suspension elements themselves are called upon to perform only one function, i. e., that of cushioning the shocks incident to the movement of the wheels Il over the ground. The driving and braking torque is transmitted to the frame by means of the torque members I5 and 26, and the antlnections 29 and 30. Because of these universal connections and the universal connections 32, 34,

strictedly, thus providing a cushioned ride that is free from harshness and shock.

By having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is not intended to limit the same, as various changes and modifications of the details thereof will be readily apparent to those skilledyin the art.

I claim:

l. In'a motor Vehicle having a frame and a wheel carrying axle, a torquetube connecting said axle and said frame, means for suspending said axle in said frame comprising a pair of torsionally yieldable rubber suspension units disposed on1` said frame adjacent the longitudinal central vertical plane thereof, a pair of larms extending outwardly from said respective suspensionl units, links connecting the respective ends `of said arms with said axle, said links having 2. In a motor vehicle having a frame and a wheel carrying axle, a torque member connecting said axle and said frame, a pair of torsional rubber suspension units mounted on said frame adjacent the longitudinal vertical central' plane thereof, a pair of arms extending outwardly from said respective units, links universally connecting said suspension units and said axle, and an antisway bar extending transversely across the rear of said vehicle and having universal connection with said frame and said axle respectively.

3. The combination according to claim 2, in which the torsionally yieldable means includes rubber acting in shear. i

4. In a motor vehicle having a frame and a wheel carrying axle, a propeller shaft drivingly connected to said axle, a torque tube surrounding said propeller shaft and connected to said frame and axle, means for mounting said axle vin said frame for rising and falling movement relative thereto comprisingan arm extending generally transversely of said frame and having a universal connection with said axle at its outer end, said connection being disposed within the lateral confines of said frame, and means for mounting the inner end of said. arm on said frame for swinging movement about an axis disposed longitudinally of said vehicle comprising a cylindrical member fixed to said arm, a second cylindrical member surrounding said flrst member and fixed to said frame and a body of rubber filling the space between said members and bonded'to each of them.

5. In a motor vehicle 'having a frame and a wheel carrying axle, means for suspending said axle from said frame comprising a pair of tor- `sionally yieldable suspension units carried by said frame, an arm extending transversely of said frame from each of said units and disposed above the plane of said frame, a link extending be- 4tween each arm and the axle and connected thereto by means of universal joint connections, said suspension units, arms, links and connections all being disposed within the lateral. con- Afines of said frame, means for preventing longitudinal displacement of said axle relative to the frame, means for preventing transverse displacement of said axle relative to the frame.

CHARLES J. FABER. 

